Critical blood shortage: Emergency blood drives today, tomorrow

Several severe trauma cases have depleted UAB’s blood supply. UAB has been forced to cancel some elective surgeries scheduled for today. There is a need for all blood types, especially type-O and type-B blood. An emergency blood drive will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29 in the North Pavilion Donor Center, 2nd Floor. Walk-ins are welcome, but for appointments, please call the North Pavilion Donor Center at (205) 996-7377 or (205) 996-986. Photo ID required.

It is not unusual for a single trauma patient to use as many as 60 units of blood, reducing available blood supplies to critical levels.

Deferral guidelines have changed in recent years. If you have been deferred in the past, please call the American Red Cross at 1-866-236-3276 to see if you would now qualify.